Best Apps For Tourists Travelling To Vietnam
From planning your route to chatting with locals, this list covers all the best apps for transportation, communication, and smooth travel in Vietnam.
Living in the era of smartphones gives travelers to Vietnam an edge like never before. Gone are the days of unfolding paper maps to hunt down restaurants in the Old Quarter, suffering social awkwardness when chatting with locals, and guessing bus routes with nothing but hope and unfamiliar street names. Now, exploring Vietnam has been so easy with your phone becoming a personal assistant, helping you book rides, order food, find hidden gems, reserve tours, buy tickets, and so much more.
To help you travel like a local and get the most out of your trip, we’ve curated a list of the best apps for Vietnam. But first, let’s go over how to stay connected with cell service and Wi-Fi during your journey.
Start by getting a SIM card
If you're visiting Vietnam, getting a local SIM card is one of the smartest things you can do. It’ll save you from sky-high roaming fees and help you stay connected wherever you go. You’ll get a local number too, which comes in handy when booking cars, calling hotels, or ordering food. Here are a few tips to choose a reliable SIM card.
Choose a reliable provider. Those include Viettel, Vinaphone, and Mobifone. They all work fine in the cities, but if you’re planning to head out to more remote spots, like the northern mountains, Viettel usually has the best coverage.
Buy from local mobile shops. They’re easy to spot along most streets in Vietnam. Or, if you’d rather get connected the moment you land, there are counters right at the airport. Just note that prices at the airport tend to be a bit higher.
If you don’t plan on getting a SIM card, that’s totally fine. Many places in Vietnam offer free Wi-Fi. But be aware that having no mobile network might become a problem when you have an emergency or travel to a remote area.
How is wifi in Vietnam?
On the whole, Vietnam has pretty solid Wi-Fi coverage. If you’re in big cities, you’ll have no trouble finding free Wi-Fi at hotels, cafés, restaurants, and even convenience stores. And yes, it’s usually completely free. But once you head into more off-the-grid spots, Wi-Fi might be harder to come by. So before you go, it’s worth checking the reviews of your accommodations or destinations to see what kind of connection you can expect.
Best apps in Vietnam for every tourist
1. Grab/ Be
Used Uber or Lyft before? Then you’ll feel right at home with Grab or Be, Vietnam’s favorite ride-hailing apps. Just look out for the riders zipping past: green jackets for Grab, yellow for Be. You’ll spot them everywhere in big cities like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, often faster than you can catch a taxi.
The apps are super simple to use: download, sign up (you’ll need a local SIM), drop your pickup and drop-off pins, and voilà - your ride’s on the way. But they’re not just for getting from A to B. Feeling lazy or hangry? Use them to order food, groceries, or even send a last-minute gift across town. One app, endless problem-solving.
2. Google Translate
English is commonly spoken in major tourist areas, but once you’re off the beaten path, say, a remote homestay in the mountains, things change. That’s when Google Translate swoops in.
It can handle bilingual conversations in real time (so yes, you can finally ask where the bathroom is without sounding awkward). The camera feature is also feasible to use to scan signs, menus, or any written text (like museum descriptions) and get instant translations. Honestly, it’s one of those apps you didn’t know you’d rely on... until you do.
3. Agoda or Booking.com
When it comes to booking your stays or transportation in Vietnam, convenience is key, and Booking.com and Agoda are two of the best tools to have on your phone. Both apps are easy to use, and even better, packed with great deals.
Whether you're looking for a cozy homestay in Sapa, a beach resort in Phu Quoc, or just a last-minute room in the city, these apps have tons of options with real-time reviews, flexible cancellation, and 24/7 support. You can also use them to book flights, trains, ferries, or car rentals as well, super handy if you're planning to explore different regions.
4. Klook
Want to hop on a Mekong river cruise, learn how to cook Vietnamese pancakes, or hit up an underground aquarium without spending your whole food budget? Download Klook. It’s great for discovering what to do in each city, especially if you’re short on time or just want everything in one place.
If you’re bouncing between cities, consider grabbing a Klook Pass. You pick 3-6 attractions in one city and save 15-45% compared to booking tickets individually. Plus, it cuts down on decision fatigue, because let’s be honest, planning an itinerary can be so exhausting.
5. Tinder
Tinder might not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning your Vietnam trip, but it’s surprisingly useful for travelers. From finding someone to show you hidden food spots to simply chatting with locals curious about your journey, the app goes beyond dating.
It’s especially active in big cities, where many young Vietnamese enjoy meeting people from around the world. Just set your intentions clearly in your bio, and you might end up with great conversations, spontaneous travel buddies, or a tour of food you’ve never read about before arriving in Vietnam.
6. Google Maps
If you’re not super into apps or just prefer to travel light and simple, Google Maps might be the only app you really need. You probably already use it at home, and the good news is, it works great across Vietnam too, whether you're wandering Hanoi’s tiniest alleys or trekking up Ha Giang’s winding passes.
You can use Google Maps to navigate, hunt down great places to eat, discover nearby attractions, and check out reviews from both locals and fellow travelers. And trust me, you’ll be using it a lot. So, one advice: start pinning the spots you want to visit ahead of time. It’ll save you from that classic “Where was that café again?” moment when you’re already halfway across town.
